This series of 26 short documentaries aims to give voice to people living with and affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also shining a spotlight on the crucial efforts of those around the world who are dedicated to confronting the NCD epidemic and making prevention and control a global priority.
These deeply personal stories represent a great diversity of people and topics, including diabetes in Mexico, mental health conditions in Ghana and South Africa, stroke in Romania, hypertension in Myanmar and psoriasis in the Philippines. Going beyond the effects of the diseases themselves, the films also examine aspects such as risk factors like air pollution and unhealthy diet, the stigmas that people living with NCDs face, the role of certain industries in the NCD epidemic, and the importance of urgently addressing NCDs as a sustainable development issue.
Action is long overdue. With 70% of all deaths worldwide caused by non-communicable diseases and the global burden of NCDs expected to increase 17% by 2025 – most of all in low- to middle-income countries – there is an urgent need to turn the tide. The series aims to:
- Raise awareness of NCDs within the global development community
- Challenge perceptions of NCDs
- Highlight the financial burden of NCDs and their impact on economies and communities
- Encourage society to increase attention to NCD prevention, treatment and care
“There is a pressing need to tell of the challenge and impact of NCDs through the lens of human stories. This series of short films goes beyond the numbers and statistics and puts a human face to these diseases, relaying the everyday reality of living with or caring for people with NCDs in low- and middle-income countries. They also highlight the power of community action, resilience and agency, by shining a spotlight on the change agents who are making a difference to turn the tide on NCDs.”
- Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance
